Unauthorized penetration of airspace. Proximity of TCA, class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	261117
Time
Date	199401
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : nzj airport : emt
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3900 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	261117
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed el monte, ca, airport at XA28, and climbed VFR to 3900 ft MSL via el toro VOR 312 degree radial southeast bound en route to the carlsbad - palomar, ca, airport. Autoplt failed to capture 3900 ft and I stopped climb at 4000 ft and descended to 3900 ft. So I did 'touch' the 4000 ft MSL floor of the lax class B airspace if only briefly (less than 30 seconds). Shame on me for depending on my autoplt for such a critical level off. Next time (we fly this route often), I'll do the level off myself and I'll do it at 3500 ft, not 3900 ft. Research shows that lax traffic may be as low as 4000 ft at this point (reference lax ILS runway 24R and ILS runway 25L iaps) will also recommend the 3500 ft maximum altitude (I was using a VFR departure chart at the time).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE. PROX OF TCA, CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DEPARTED EL MONTE, CA, ARPT AT XA28, AND CLBED VFR TO 3900 FT MSL VIA EL TORO VOR 312 DEG RADIAL SE BOUND ENRTE TO THE CARLSBAD - PALOMAR, CA, ARPT. AUTOPLT FAILED TO CAPTURE 3900 FT AND I STOPPED CLB AT 4000 FT AND DSNDED TO 3900 FT. SO I DID 'TOUCH' THE 4000 FT MSL FLOOR OF THE LAX CLASS B AIRSPACE IF ONLY BRIEFLY (LESS THAN 30 SECONDS). SHAME ON ME FOR DEPENDING ON MY AUTOPLT FOR SUCH A CRITICAL LEVEL OFF. NEXT TIME (WE FLY THIS RTE OFTEN), I'LL DO THE LEVEL OFF MYSELF AND I'LL DO IT AT 3500 FT, NOT 3900 FT. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT LAX TFC MAY BE AS LOW AS 4000 FT AT THIS POINT (REF LAX ILS RWY 24R AND ILS RWY 25L IAPS) WILL ALSO RECOMMEND THE 3500 FT MAX ALT (I WAS USING A VFR DEP CHART AT THE TIME).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.